Neil Warnock is ‘ready to come out of retirement’ to manage Sunderland after Alex Neil left the club

Despite announcing an end to his football management career nine months ago, Neil Warnock is now ‘ready to come out of retirement’ to manage Sunderland.

The Black Cats currently find themselves without a manager after Alex Neil, the man that led them into the Championship via the play-offs last season, left for Stoke.

Warnock hasn’t managed since leaving Middlesbrough nine months ago.

The post is currently vacant following Alex Neil’s departure to manage Stoke

He broke the record for the most games managed in English football while at the Riverside stadium, with 1,602.

The 73-year-old announced at the time that he had retired, but he could now be set for a return 42 years after his first management job with Gainsborough Trinity.

According to reports in the Sun, Warnock has told friends he would ‘jump’ at the chance to manage Sunderland, and has made his interest clear to Sporting Director Kristjaan Speakman.

Sunderland currently sit 12th in the Championship after a solid opening six games

They also claim one of the manager’s ‘biggest regrets’ in football was turning down the Sunderland job in 1992, and he is now looking to make amends.

It has been a reasonable start to the Championship for the newly-promoted side, as they currently sit in 12th after six games.

A club of Sunderland’s side will be hoping for a promotion push in the near future, and no manager in history has as many promotions in English football as Warnock’s eight.